Pakistan to crackdown against illegal petroleum trade

Islamabad: Pakistan government has intensified its crackdown against smuggled and substandard petroleum products across the country. During a major drive against oil smugglers, officials have seized petroleum products worth Rs497.37 million, local media reported.

At least 609 fuel stations across the country have been sealed with about 4.5 million litres of petrol and diesel seized under a non-discriminatory action led by the Ministry of Interior.

If the sealed pumps fail to produce valid documentation within seven days of sealing, they will be “confiscated by the state under the Customs Act along with all properties of the owners, as it would be deemed that these properties were acquired with smuggling proceeds” the PM Office said. “The campaign against oil smuggling is continuing unabated and showing significantly good results” the official statement added.

Pakistan economy

The drive has been launched on directives issued by Prime Minister Imran Khan who believes that “smuggling was causing irreparable loss to the country’s economy”. Reports claim that oil smuggling in Pakistan and its sale at 2094 filling stations across the county are causing an annual economic loss of whopping Rs150 billion to the country.

The smuggled petrol is reportedly sneaked into Pakistan’s south-western province of Balochistan from Iran. Pakistan is also fencing its 900-km border with Iran to stem the flow of illegal crossings and halt smuggling.